Ignition-circuit switch



R H PARKER IGNITION cnzcun' swr'rcn Filed Nov. 5. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .zg-Z. f4

Nov. 24, 1925.

INVENroR.

M/variar 0, f fc ATTORNEY.

. Nov. 24, 192s.

R. H. PARKER IGNITION crncun' swr'rcu Filed Nov. 5. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2f w -M52? 17 m FSJ v l www? INVENToR.

` AnoRNEY.

Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES RUSSELL H. PARKER, 0F .BENTON COUNTY, OREGON.

IGNITION-CIRCUIT SWITCH.

`Application led November To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RUSSELL H. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Benton and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition-Circuit Switches, of which the following yis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in ignition circuit switches and has for an important object thereof the provision of` a combination switch for use in the ignition systems of automobiles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having means whereby an attempt to operate the switch before the combination has been properly manipulated will result in the ringing of an alarm.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a combination of this character an ignition switch construction necessitating complete rotation ofr the ignition switch through 360 before the ringing of the alarm can be terminated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be comparatively cheaply produced and which is readily applied to the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a device of this character a cover plate for the combination dials employed, which cover plate hides from view the setting of the dials but permits operation and prevents removal of the ignition key.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a combination switch constructed in `accordance with my invention, the casing of the switch being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the switch structure, the cover plate being removed;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 41 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section on ,the line 6--6 of Figure 2;

5, 1923. Serial No. 672,922.

Figures 7.and 8 are rear elevations of the switching disks a and b respectively; and

Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the ignition switch plate.

Referring now more particularly to the Y drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a cover plate and 11 a switch plate which plates are arranged in parallell and in spaced relation toone another. The cover plate 10 is provided with a pluralityy of spaced openings 12 through which are directed the hub portions 13 of arms 111 operating upon the face of the cover plate. The arms 14 each coact with a series of spaced openings 15 formed in the cover plate with the hub of the arm as a center.L The end of the arm 14C is provided with a pin 16 for engagement in these openings, the arm being formed of flexible material so that the pin may be withdrawn from an opening in which it is entered and the arm shifted to an adjusted position, at which time upon release of the armthe pin will enter the opening.

The hub portions 13 have each mounted therein a shaft 17, the inner end of which extends into the bore 18 of a hub 19 formed upon the face of the switch plate 11 next adjacent the front plate 10. These hubs have their forward ends reduced, as indicated at 20, thus providing shoulders I21 against which seat disks 22 having a central opening in which the reduced portion 20 extends. The hub portions 13 are provided with rearwardly projecting pins 23 which engage in openings 24:v formed in the disks 22 These openings correspond in number and arrangement to the openings 15 of the plate 10 and the engagement of the pins 23 in the openings determines the position of the arin 22 upon the dial formed by the openings 15 which are preferably each identified by indicia.

The inner ends of the shafts 17 are provided with nuts 25 seated in recesses formed in the rearface of the switch plate and serving as a means for preventing withdrawal of the shafts through the bores 18, thereby preventing any accidental change of the arrangement of the disks 22 with relation to their respective arms 14:.

Each disk 22 has formed thereon a flange 26 of conducting material, the flangeA having a slot cut therein, which slot is filled with insulating material, as indicated at 27. Each disk has associated therewith a pair of plungers 28 and 29 carried by the switch plate, each of these` plungers being in the form of a stud mounted in the plate and having a shifting cap 31 imposed thereon, a spring 32 surrounding the stud within the cap and urging the cap outwardly for engagement with its disk. rFliese caps provide brushes for engagement with the flange 26 and are preferably dia-metrically opposed in their point of engagement. The pl-u'ngerslor brushes- 28 are'of suchl sise that when aligned with the insulatingv segment 27 theyy do not come in contact with the metallic portion of the flange while the plungers 29J are ofsuch' size that they bridge the insulating segment 27 when aligned therewith. The plungers 28 are connected in series by a wire 33 one end of which is connected with an alarnr 34 mounted' upon the rea-r face of the switch plate l1 and in: the present instance disclosed as a bell. The plungersl 29 are connected in series by a wire The disks' 22 are divided` into two' classes;

generally indicated by the characters a and ZJ. 0f the first class there ispreferably but a single disk while of tli'e latter class as many disks 22 may be provided' as is desired. The disk of the class a has associated therewith yet a third plunger 36 arr nged inwardly of the flange 26 so that it does not come in Contact therewith, this plunger being similar in construction' tothe plungers 28 and 29.t Each disk 22 of the class b has associa-ted'l therewith two of such pl'ungers. The' disk of the' class is p rovided with a'- conducting segi'nent 37 which is electrically connected to' the metallic flange 26' and which engages against theV brush 36 when the disk is' in one position. ln this sa-me position the insulating segment 27 is aligned with the brush 2'8. Each of the disks of the class b is provided with a conducting segment 38 free from connection with the rim and which in 'one' positionof the disk electrically connects the pair of plungers 39 associated@ with the disk- Vilhen the disks 'Zi are in this position the insulating segments 27 thereof are aligned' with the plungers 28' associatedv therewith. The disk" next adjacent the disk a has one of the plungers 39 thereof electrically connected to the plunger 36 associated with the disk a by a wire 40 and' the other plunger 39 thereof connected with one of the plungers 39 of the other disk by a wire 4l.4 rlhe last named disk b has its remaining plungers 39 extended through an open`A ing 42 in the switch plate for a purpose presently to appear.

The wire 35 basar-ranged therein an additional plunger or brush 43, this plunger being situated adjacent av hub' 44 formed upon the panel and similar to the hubs l2) for the mounting of the disks 22'. This hub has a reduced portion 45' entering an opening in; a disk 46 similar to but smaller than the disks? 22. The conducting flange 47 of this disk is provided with the usual insulating portion 48, which insulating portion is of'such size that when aligned with the plunger 43 it breaks contact between this plungerl and the conducting portion of the'fla'nge. Through the bore of the hub 44 a shaft 48 is directed having upon its forward end an ignition key 49, the hub portion 50 of whichis' provided with pins for engagement in' oaenings' 5l formed inl the disk 46. The" switch plate 'll bears a further plunger 52 which coacts with thev flange 47 of the di'sk- 46' and i-'s `ireferably diametrica'llfyl opposed as respects the disk from the.' plunger 43'. This last plunger is electrically connected by a wire 53* withone' terminal of a source of. current B.

of current is shown as grounded it will', of

course, be realized that the circuit may be completed in any desired manner. The second1 terminal of the bellA or alarm 34 will likewise be grounded'. rllh'e' rear face of the front plate IO' is` provided with a spring catch 52 coacting withV notches 53' formed in' the front face of the ignition disk 4G preventing rotation of this disk in one direction.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: If the'disks a, b and c' are in the position shown in` Figure 2 with the insulating portions thereof aligned with the plunger 28, it will be obvious that nov current can pass froinl the flanges 267' to the plunger 28. lith these disks in; this position, if the' i gnition' key be turned so that the brush 43 engages portion of the' metallic rim 47 of the ignition plate 46 thenV current will flow from the source through the tlange'f47 and plunger 43 to theV wire 35. From the wire 35 it will be conducted through' the conducting segment 37 to the wire 40, from the wire 4() through abrush 3f) and segment )8 to the wire 4l, from the wire 4l through the' brushesy 3) and segi'nent 38vv to the wire 42 and th'i'swire' may lead directly to the ignition to form a lead wire' therefor. All wires leading from the switch plate will be encased in armored' cable, as indicated at 54, so' that the wires may not be attacked to change over the circuit. If any of the disks 22 are so shifted that the insulating segment 37 thereof does not align with its plunger 28 then the circuit tothe wire is broken as follows: If the disk a be misplaced the circuit is broken between the wires 4() and If the first of the disks Z) is misplaced the circuit is broken between the wires 40 and 4l and if the second disk Z) is broken it is broken between the wires 40 and 42 for the reason that the conductor segments 37 ler 38, as the case may be,- wil'l not properly align with their associated iii) llO

brushes 36 or 39. Furthermore, if any of these disks is misplaced and the ignition key is turned to the on position, current will flow from the wire through the flange 26 of the disk to the wire 38 with the result that the alarm is actuated. Since the key 49 can only be rotated in one direction it will be obvious that a complete revolution thereof must be made before the alarm can be silenced.

Apparatus of this character is preferably housed in a casing having pressed lugs 55n against which the switch plate ll is seated. rlhe casing is arranged behind the instrument panel 5G of the vehicle 'to which it is applied, an opening 57 being formed in the panel so that the dials appear therethrough. To the panel a cover plate 58 is preferably hinged which normally covc" the operating arms la controlling the di s 22, this cover plate having an opening 59 through which the ignition switch is accessible for operation. It will be obvious that the use of a switch constructed in accordance with the foregoing will be extremely dillicult for persons not familiar with the combination to so place the ignition switch that the vehicle may be started without attracting attention by the alarm 34. It will furthermore be obvious that this construction is capable of a considerable range of change and modification without in any mannerdeparting from the spirit of my invention and l accordingly do not limit myself to such speci tic structure as hereinbeiiore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. A switch including an insulating base, a pair of series of spaced electrically connected contacts carried by the base, a third series of contacts carried by the base, alternate contacts of the third series being electrically connected with one another, the third series of contacts and one of the first named series of contacts each having a contact thereof adapted for connection with a translating device and a plurality of rotatable insulating disks associated with the base, said disks having means whereby any of said disks in all but one position thereof completes a connection between said pair of series of electrically connected contacts, certain of said disks further including a part which in such position of the disks electrically connects unconnected pairs of contacts of the last named series of contacts, a further disk including a part which in the last named position of the disk electrically connects the other of said pair of series of electrically connected contacts with one of the third series of contacts.

2. A switch including an insulating base, a pair of series of spaced electrically connected contacts carried by the base, a third series of contacts carried by the base, alternate contacts of the third series being electrically connected with one another, the third series of contacts and one of the first named series of contacts each having a contact thereof adapted for connection with a translating device and a plurality of rotatable insulating disks associated. with the base, said disks having means whereby any of said disks in all but one position thereof completes a connection between said pair of series of electrically connected contacts, certain of said disks further including a part which in such position of the disks electrically connects unconnected pairs of contacts of the last named series of contacts, a further disk including a part which in the last named position of the disk electrically connects the other of said pair ot series of electrically connected contacts with one of the third series of contacts, an operating handle for each disk and means for determining the position of the operating handle in which the disk is arranged in the last named position.

8. A switch including an insulating base, a pair of series of spaced electrically connected contacts carried by the base, a third series of contacts carried by the base, alternate contacts of the third series being electrically connected with one another, the third series of contacts and one of the first named series of contacts each having a contact thereof adapted for connection with a translating device and a plurality of rotatable insulating disks associated with the base, said disks each including an arcuate contact having a notch, an insulating material within the notch, each disk aligning` with one contact of each of the pairs of series of electrically connected contacts, the contacts of one of the series of electrically connected contacts beino' of a width less third series of contacts, the remaining disks each having a further segment which in said position aligns with and provides a connection between a pair of unconnected contacts of the third series.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alix my signature.

RUSSELL H. PARKER. 

